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Hitler's Canary

Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
3 of 3 copies available

1940. Copenagen, Denmark. The German troops have invaded.
A must-read account of immense courage during the Second World War, for children. Based on real-life events experienced by Sandi Toksvig's family during the Nazi occupation of Denmark.
Ten-year-old Bamse Skovlund and his best friend Anton have been ordered to stay out of trouble.
It soon becomes clear that trouble isn't just going to pass any of them by.
Jewish Danes are subject to appalling treatment by the German occupiers, and every day are at risk of being taken away to concentration camps in mainland Europe.
The Skovlund family are determined to fight against Nazi occupation. And if this means participating in one of history's most dramatic rescue missions, then it's time to take a stand.
A tale of resistance in Nazi-occupied Denmark. The book is inspired by the stories told to Sandi Toksvig by her father, Bamse.
Praise for Hitler's Canary:
'An extraordinary story... truly life-affirming.' Michael Morpurgo
'There are not many classic children's novels about the Second World War but this is one of them.' The Times
'Racily written and full of comic incident as well as suspense.' The Independent
'Brilliantly told... never loses sight of the child's view of war.' The Guardian

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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from March 12, 2007
      In this insightful novel, Toksvig offers a unique glimpse of WWII, writing from the perspective of a 10-year-old Danish boy forced to grow up quickly. Bamse, the son of a famous stage actress and a talented set designer, has "lived in a make-believe world" until the spring of 1940 when Germany invades his country. In Copenhagen, Nazi soldiers now rule the streets, and native Danes begin to fear for their safety. Some, like Bamse's mother and father, try to keep a low profile in order to keep their loved ones safe. Others, like the boy's 16-year-old brother, refuse to act like "Hitler's Canary," and wish to take a stand against the invaders. When rumors spread that Jews are being taken from their homes, Bamse's entire family takes part in a resistance movement, hiding Jewish friends and later helping them escape. Based on true stories handed down to the author by her father, Toksvis's tale of courage in the face of tyranny sheds light on the difficult choices facing the Danish people and pays tribute to resisters (including some compassionate Germans), who make enormous sacrifices in order to save others' lives. Through the boy's narrative, readers witness his loss of innocence ("I knew my Danish history from school: for the first time in nine hundred years my homeland... was not free and independent"). The author thus brings to life the tensions in Denmark at a time when "it wasn't always easy to tell the difference" between the "good" and "bad" people. Ages 11-up. (Mar.)
      Agent: Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:810
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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